Photo crosslinked stilbene-containing sulfonated polyimide membranes as proton exchange membranes in fuel cell

Stilbene containing sulfonated polyimide membranes were synthesized from 1, 4, 5, 8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 2-bis (4-aminophenoxy)phenyl)hexafluoropropane, 2, 2?-benzidinedisulfonic acid and 4,4?-diamino stilbene. Subsequently, they were photo crosslinked and characterized to investigate their suitability for fuel cell applications. The synthesized membranes exhibit water uptake of 24.47-29.78 percent, proton conductivity of 0.016-0.046 S cm?1 at 30 °C, and the ion exchange capacity of 1.450-1.485 mequiv g?1. The fuel cell performance of stilbene containing sulfonated polyimide membrane showed a power density of 0.24 W/cm2. The hydrolytic stability of uncrosslinked stilbene containing sulfonated polyimide membranes was 47-68 h, but, after the photocrosslinking, it was increased up to 109 h. The uncrosslinked membranes showed tensile strength in the range of 36.74-47.38 MPa, and after photocrosslinking, the tensile strength was increased in the range of 42.34-54.71 MPa. The oxidative stability of uncrosslinked membranes was found to be in the range of 45-48 h whereas the photocrosslinked membranes showed oxidative stability in the range of 51-57 h.